57 



and supported by, the best available scientific knowledge." ^ To this end, we 

 embrace the concept of adaptive mainagement, which means learning by taking 

 action in the face of uncertainty, but taking action in a way that allows you to 

 leam as you go along. In this way, as events and knowledge change, the Council 

 has the opportunity to make changes in the program. 



This summer we are embarking on a public process that could lead to 

 changes in the Strategy that reflect new information. In the Strategy, we said the 

 existing measures would not be enough to protect all weak runs or rebuild to 

 levels that would provide the benefits of sustainable fisheries. Accordingly, we 

 called for detailed reports to be prepared on a variety of measures to improve 

 passage of anadromous fish in their mainstem migration, including reservoir 

 drawdowns, potential new Snake River Basin storage facilities, water efficiencies, 

 transactions or other nonstructureil measures to secure more Snake River Basin 

 water for anadromous fish, biological rule curves to protect resident fish and 

 wildlife populations associated with Libby and Hungry Horse reservoirs in 

 Montana, and other matters. 



All of these reports grew out of amendment recommendations that were 

 submitted in the process of developing the Strategy. In the Strategy, we 

 committed to review those reports in 1994, as well as emy additional new 

 information, and amend appropriate measures into the program. And there is 

 new information, such as research on river flows and salmon migration in the 

 mid-Columbia River and a scientific peer review of transporting juvenile fish 

 downstream past the dams. 



Meanwhile, a number of other issues have arisen in connection with the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service's 1993 and 1994 biological opinions, the 

 Recovery Team's draft recommendations last October, federal court proceedings, 

 and other matters. We want to be sure we take these matters fully into account in 

 our fall rulemaking process. We have invited recommendations regsirding all 

 measures for anadromous fish in the Strategy. These recommendations are due 



2 Section 4.(h)(6)(B). 



